Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-08-29
THENAIL BUSINESS.

night "-IateuigeReer Editorial.
NAIL BUSINESS.
Some Pertinent Remarks by Gold Short"
and the age of Steel"
"'Cold Short" Mr.. Phillip Henry
Moore, in his weekly letter to the Age Of
Steel, makes the following pertinent re-
marks relating to the nail business in
Wheeling:
= For instance, nails are only re-
motely concerned in the tariff question;
better conditions for BeSsemer steel would
improve the results for those having steel
plant annexes, it is true, but am discuss
ing nails as an abstract branch. without
alliances. Steel nails are subject Just now
to about all the ills incident to production
and to trade, among which excessive pro-
duction, unremuneratiye prices, shyster-
ing competition, u~nbusinesslike manage
ment, childish jealousies and suspicious,
and an i'll visaged outlook loom up in bold
prominence. Some of these are obstinate,
hard to relieve or control, because the pa
tients are so obstinate in clinging to mis-
conceptions, to empirical systems. The
only sagacious curative method commences
at the root, and that by a harmonious, an
an aggregated effort.
In q preceding letter | discussed pools.
| observe that another effort is being made
to bring about that cumulated plan with
its comprehensive laterals-a national
pool. 4 surgeon sometimes finds it neces-
sary to lacerate 4 sore that new edges may
be provided, the better TO promote q heal
ing process, but he rarely cuts two indo-
lent ulcers into one to bring about a cure
for both. | have as much faith in, this
blending of these Eastern and Western
nail associations as l have that when /
draw my finger from q vessel full of water
a hole will be left in the contents. This
expansive, encircling, eapacious umbrella
will cover q multitude of errors and weak
nesses, but its very comprehensiveness
suggests ductility of rules and precepts,
more loop-holes and greater difficulty to
detect and stop them. There would be too
many arms to such an octopus.
| reiterate, that the Wheeling district,
being the headquarters of the nail busi-
ness, the nail manufacturers located there
in need no outside alliances, no foreign
complication; they have the power within
themselves, and those outside know it,
fear it, and desire to destroy it. A COM
mon interest bands these Wheeling district
manufacturers together; why, then, re-
fuse to recognize this aud so strenu-
ous!y resist it, surpasses under
nature herd together for self protection
against a common enemy and then agree;
why should men be the only animals per-
severingly at war with each other when a
common danger is continually threaten
ing? Plans OF this character when too
diffusely elaborated, generally fall from
top .heaviness to exemplify or attest the
principles which actuated their concep.
ton; but, within prope limits their re-
suits become automatic. | am not hostile
to the factories outside of this district. Il
am not an enemy of Cesar because | am a
lover of Rome" Unwarrauted additions
to already ~over-expanded production can
not be c~Ombatted or even censured so long
as scheming capital and speculative COM
binations provide pitfalls TO trap the over
anxious and unwary. 1t is pitiable but
true, that the victims soon come TO the
end OF their rope, and have to return to
their native heaths."
The Age Of Stea, speaking editOrially of
the proposed nail pool, gives a synopsis of
the working of the Eastern Trust Associa-
ton, known as the Association Of East
ern Nail Manufacturers and then says OF
the Western plan:
The plan which has been under discus
sion by the Western manufacturers is more
elaborate than the above, as will be seen
by the following synopsis OF the more i'm
portant points: The board OF control shall
have the power to determine the allotment
Of nails to be made annually and 10 fix the
price Of nails from time to time; which
price, however, shall not be made at any
time below q price that will not guarantee
a margin of "a cents per keg TO the manu-
factureIs. The agent or agents of the as
ISOLATION shall be paid q salary, to whom
the mills must refer all buyers, and
decline to ship. any orders, except
such as are received direct from the
sales agent or agents. No deduction
or concessions made by any mill from price
named by sales agent shall avail anything;
buyers requests for nails from any partic-
ular mill shall not be needed. All nails
must be sold without guarantee, and all
concessions from base price made only for
quantity. No orders TO be taken for less
than car loads of 2iO kegs or over. No
orders shall be entered for future ship
ment. The abatement on iron nails shall
not exceed 5 cents per keg. ANY Western
manufacturer may sell east OF the Allie
gbeny mountains, subject to arrangements
made between the respective boards OF
control Of the Eastern aud Western associ-
ati0ns, independent of this agreement, pro-
yiAed such sales are for Eastern consump-
ton or export from the country. All prices
named to he IF. o. 3. Mills" Freights
to be equalized. The above are the fea-
lures of the proposed agreement OF the
greatest interest TO the pablo.
We understand that this plan Of org1ni-
cation receiyed the almost unanimous aI-
prOval OF the manufacturers in the West.
Owing, however, TO the opposition Of one
two mills it has been laid aside for the
present. That some concert Of action
among the manufacturers is absolutely
necessary is evident to the most superficial
observer. Whether this plan is the best
one that could be adopted, We do not pre-
tend to say. 1t has at any rate the desir-
able feature Of being strong and in many
equitable. The end in VIEWS
cents profit TO the mills on each key OF
nails manufaetured-is certainly reason
able.
PROF. JONI MULLEN will open his
Dancing Academy in MRunerchor Hall,
No. 1918 Market street, Thursday, Sep